To John Fennes a Constable in the City of London, and also to all Constables and other Officers of the Peace and it may concern, and to the Church-Wardens and Overseers of the Poor, of the Parish of Coggeshall, in the county of Essex or either of them, to receive and obey.

London, to wit.  Whereas Sarah Whitaker was on the 10th day of June last apprehended in the parish of St. Mary Woolchurch in the city of London, wandering about and begging

And whereas the said Sarah hath been by me Brook Watson Esq. Mayor of the city of London, and one of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace, in and for the said City, examined and adjudged and convicted to be a Rogue and a Vagabond, and hath in consequence of such Conviction been committed to and confined in Bridewell Hospital for the space of one month pursuant to the Statutes in that Case made and provided.

And whereas upon Examination of the said Sarah taken before me this Day upon Oath (which Examination is here unto annexed) doth appear that the last legal Settlement of the said Sarah is in the parish of  Coggeshall

These are therefore to require You to said John to convey the said Sarah to the Parish of Saint Mary Whitechapel in the county of Middlesex that being the first Parish through which she ought to pass in the direct Road to the said Parish to which she is to be sent, and to deliver her to the Constable or other Officer of such first Parish together with this Pass and Examination of the said Sarah taking his Receipt for the same.

And that said Sarah to be thence conveyed on in like manner to the said Parish of Coggeshall there to be delivered to some Church-Warden, Chapel- Warden, or Overseer of the Poor to be provided for according to Law.  And you the said Church-Wardens, Chapel-Wardens, and Overseers of the Poor are hereby required to receive the said Sarah and provide for her according to Law. Given under my Hand and Seal this 11th day of July in the Year of our Lord 1797.

London, to wit. The Examination of Sarah Whitaker a Rogue and Vagabond apprehended in the City of London, taken before me one of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the said City this 11th day of July, 1797.

Who on her Oath saith, that she was born in the parish of Coggeshall in the county of Essex where her parents were legally settled

 And hath not obtained a subsequent Settlement to this Examinant’s Knowledge or Belief. 

Taken and sworn the Day and                                The mark of
                                                                                      X
Year first above written before me                          Sarah Whitaker

[source: collection of Peter Tiersma]